Moving to Albania from Macedonia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Macedonia to Albania — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Macedonia to Albania, you would find that Albania is 42.8% more expensive than Macedonia overall. A MKD4,040,579 salary in Macedonia would need to be roughly ALL7,691,264 in Albania to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Albanian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Macedonia to Albania.

What does your salary buy?

MKD4,040,579 ALL7,691,264

To maintain the same standard of living in Albania

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 26.7% more

Groceries

pay 33.1% more

Transportation

pay 2.2 times more

Housing

pay 31.1% more

Childcare

pay 44.6% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 34.2% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MKD = 1.52 ALL (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Macedonia to Albania, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
499 ↓ 7% vs 2015

people born in Macedonia live in Albania · UN DESA

Who's moving to Albania?

Top countries of origin for Albania's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Macedonia to Albania.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

MK
0.9
AL
1.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MK
5.7
AL
10.8

Macedonia performs better than Albania across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MK
$1,808
AL
$1,464
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

MK
29.6
AL
18.8

Albania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Macedonia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MK
62.0
AL
59.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MK
4.0t
AL
1.8t

Albania performs significantly better than Macedonia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MK
24.6
AL
20.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MK
38.0%
AL
4.8%

Macedonia generally does better on infrastructure, though Albania leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MK
13.1%
AL
11.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MK
$23,400
AL
$18,100

Macedonia generally does better on employment & economy, though Albania leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MK
76.8 yrs
AL
79.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MK
7.3
AL
10.8

Macedonia generally does better on family life, though Albania leads in life expectancy.

Data: Public Revenue Office, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Macedonia and Albania. To live, work, or study long-term in Albania, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Albania's immigration authority.

Macedonia passport

Macedonia passport holder visiting Albania

Visa Free
Macedonia passport holders can enter Albania without a visa.
Albania passport

Albania passport holder visiting Macedonia

Visa Free
Albania passport holders can enter Macedonia without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Albania than Macedonia?

No — Albania is on average about 25% more expensive than Macedonia. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Albania?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ALL1,922,816 in Albania on a MKD4,040,579 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Albania?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Albania has 20.6 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Albania safe for expats?

Macedonia performs better than Albania across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Albania is 1.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Macedonia.

How is healthcare in Albania compared to Macedonia?

Albania generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Macedonia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 18.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Albania, compared to 29.6 in Macedonia. Albania scores 64 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Macedonia: 74).

What language do they speak in Albania?

The official language in Albania is Albanian. In Macedonia, the official language is Macedonian.

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At a Glance

MK AL
Population 2,130,936 3,095,344
Currency Macedonian Denar (MKD) Albanian Lek (ALL)
Languages Macedonian Albanian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +389 +355
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112